January 2012

December 2011

November 2011

September 2011

Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League Calls for
Financial Accounting of Proposed Rule’s Health Care Costs

Sept. 28, 2011: Raleigh- At a hearing on North Carolina’s proposed adoption of US EPA’s three-year deferral on controlling greenhouse gases emitted from biomass incinerators, Blue Ridge Environmental called for a full financial accounting of the rule’s impact on health care costs. EPA has not mandated that States adopt the deferral. In addition, BREDL requested a review of the rulemaking process pointing to attempts by the North Carolina Division of Air Quality to fast track the process and circumventing public process.

Read BREDL Press Release | Read BREDL Comments

League Calls For "Second Opinion" on Health Effects of Biomass Incineration

June 2011

Alamance County, NC considers Heavy Industrial Development Ordinance

June 7, 2011: Public health, safety and environmental concerns must be addressed regarding this ordinance. Citizens must be allowed a voice in revisions that could allow even more polluting industries into Alamance County. Our Alamance County children have many needs, but more pollution is not one of them. - Beverly Kerr, Community Organizer

BREDL Report - The Case Against Compromising Alamance County’s Health, Safety and General Welfare
Janet's June 7 Letter to Alamance County Board of Commissioners

May 2011

Medical Waste Incinerator Closed Down!
Campaign Victory Declared by Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and our chapter Citizens for a Healthy Environment

November 2010

Groups Call for BMWNC Shut-down
New Pollution Study Identifies Harm

Nov. 9, 2010: Today at a press conference in Matthews, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and Citizens for a Healthy Environment released an air pollution study which concludes that the BMWNC medical waste incinerator is too dangerous to operate. The groups called for a shut-down of the incinerator.

BREDL Press Release | BMWNC Air Modeling Report

October 2010

BREDL comments on Medical Waste Incinerators

BREDL comments to NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Air Quality regarding new medical waste incinerator rules. BREDL urges the effective date of October 6, 2012.

BREDL Sept. 17 Comments | BREDL Oct. 15 Comments
2008 Summary of Industry Responses to HMIWI Waste Segregation

September 2010

Citizens to demand medical waste incinerators abide by new EPA rules by 2012
League Chapters say 4 years too long to wait for cleaner air

Sept. 1, 2010: Members of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League’s two chapters, Citizens for a Healthy Environment (CHE) and Clean Air Now (CAN), will testify at a public hearing sponsored by the NC Environmental Management Commission (EMC). The hearing will take place on Sept 7th at 7 p.m. at the University of North Carolina Greensboro Campus, Moore Humanities & Research Administration, Spring Garden Street, Bldg. 246, Rm. #1215, Greensboro, NC, 27412.

Read BREDL Press Release | BREDL Action Alert

August 2010

BREDL Comments on incorporating the federal greenhouse gas tailoring rules into North Carolina’s PSD and Title V program.

Aug. 31, 2010: Excerpt from BREDL comments: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized that because GHG pollutants are emitted at much higher rates than the criteria pollutants, tens of thousands of facilities would require permits beginning January 2 unless new threshold limits were set. The state’s fiscal note for this rule indicates that PSD and Title V permit applications would total over 50,000 and the associated costs would total $490 million on an annual basis. Under these circumstances, the critical need for the tailoring rule is obvious.

Read BREDL Comments
Attachments: NC Academy of Family Physicians (NCAFP) letter of concern regarding biomass burning plants | Emissions based on power production chart

The comment period remains open until October 15. Link to the public notice and the rule:   http://daq.state.nc.us/rules/hearing/

BREDL comments to EPA regarding Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units.

Aug. 23, 2010: [Excerpt] The impact of incinerators on human health is obvious. We support continuous emissions monitoring and a more transparent reporting system that better informs the surrounding community. We find that very often communities and public officials are unaware of the impacts from incinerators. Readily available data and reports would be a valuable tool. Continuous emissions monitoring is an essential step toward making that a reality.

View BREDL Comments | Link to EPA supporting documents and comments submitted

League Files Unprecedented Air Pollution Challenge at Plant Vogtle

Aug. 12, 2010: This week in a bold move, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed a legal challenge to the proposed air pollution permit at Plant Vogtle. The August 10th filing was one of the first in the nation under the federal Clean Air Act challenging excessive radionuclide emissions from nuclear power. In a petition to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the League called for rejection of the permit issued by the State of Georgia because it failed to limit radioactive air pollution, failed to protect public health and failed to prevent environmental injustice.

BREDL Press Release | View BREDL Petition

July 2010

Alamance County Commissioners’ Meeting regarding Stericycle

Commissioners' Meeting
Monday July 19
7:00 p.m.
County Office Building
124 W. Elm St.
Commissioners Meeting Room, 2nd Floor

More Info: Meeting Flyer | FAQ | Stericycle Awareness Campaign

Haw River, NC Town Meeting regarding Stericycle

Town Meeting
Tuesday July 13
6:30 p.m.
Haw River Civic Center
110 Stone Street
Behind Town Hall & Fire Department

More Info: Meeting Flyer | Stericycle Awareness Campaign

April 2010

Mecklenburg County passes resolutions to request
early implementation of new EPA rules by Oct. 6, 2012.

April 22, 2010: The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners have given county residents a fitting Earth Day gift. In an effort to help protect Matthews-area residents from exposure to toxic air emissions from the BMWNC medical waste incinerator, located on the border of Matthews and Stallings, commissioners unanimously approved two resolutions at their April 20 meeting, requesting early implementation of the new 2014 EPA guidelines on medical waste incinerator Title V permits in Mecklenburg County. The county wants to shave two years off the four years allowed under the new EPA rules for medical waste incinerators to come into compliance with the new rules.
Read Citizens for a Healthy Environment Press Release
View Mecklenburg County Resolution

BMWNC medical waste incinerator is operating on expired permit
League calls on MCAQ to re-issue permit under new, more protective EPA rules

April 6, 2010: The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League has confirmed that the BMWNC medical waste in incinerator in Matthews, NC, has been operating without a valid permit since March of 2009. The information was submitted to the Mecklenburg County Air Quality in comments concerning the incinerator’s application for a permit renewal. By law, a medical waste incinerator cannot operate without a valid Title V air quality permit, and an application for renewal must be submitted to the governing agency nine months prior to the expiration date. Read BREDL Press Release

April 1, 2010: BREDL Comments and Recommendations to Mecklenburg County Department Air Quality concerning renewal of BMWNC Title V Permit renewal for the BMWNC medical waste incinerator, located in Matthews, NC.

February 2010

Morton Trucking, Inc. Asphalt Plant
Jacksonville, North Carolina

February 23, 2010: Testimony of BREDL's Louis A. Zeller before the Onslow County Board of Adjustment regarding Special Use Permit for asphalt plant proposed by Morton Trucking, Inc.

January 2010

Jan. 31, 2010: BREDL Factsheet: Pollution of the Air, Soil and Water by South Atlantic Galvanizing

November 2009

The League comments on new 60 MW unadulterated wood-fired boiler in Hertford County, NC
Nov. 30, 2009: BREDL comments on North Carolina Division of Air Quality’s preliminary determination that a construction and operation permit can be issued to Hertford Renewable Energy for a new 60 MW unadulterated wood-fired boiler in Hertford County. Read BREDL Comments

September 2009

League comments on Duke Energy Request for Rate Increase
Sept. 15, 2009: BREDL opposes Duke Energy’s request for authority to increase the rates charged to the 1.8 million customers in their service area. Read BREDL comments

Sept. 21, 2009: MXI Environmental Services in Abingdon, Virginia operates an ethanol recovery plant. The present air permit allows volatile organic compounds emissions of 2.08 pounds/hour and 18,240 pounds/year. The new draft permit would allow emissions of VOCs to rise to 33.37 pounds/hour and 129,880 pounds/year, or 16 times higher and 7 times higher, respectively. According to Virginia DEQ, MXI violated its permit because of an excessive level of VOCs, the same toxic compound which MXI now seeks to increase. We believe it is wrong to issue an expanded permit to a company which is apparently still out of compliance.

BREDL comments to VA DEQ

Sept. 10, 2009: The MXI Environmental Services ethanol plant in Abingdon plans to expand operations. DEQ's new air permit if approved would allow huge increases in emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

BREDL Factsheet: MXI's Ethanol Plant Pollution

April 2009

April 29, 2009: BREDL joins other groups in letter to President Obama and EPA Administrator Jackson regarding dioxin reassessment.
Read Letter | Read Quotes from Dioxin Impacted Communities

April 9, 2009: BREDL comments on the NC toxic air pollutant rules. The League's major recommendations: 1) We urge the NC Environmental Management Commission to eliminate exemptions for industrial boilers which are part of an air pollution facility which has other smokestacks covered by the state’s toxic air pollutant limits; 2) Recent changes in federal law make it more important than ever for North Carolina to keep its own health-based Toxic Air Pollutant program in place and make certain that air poison limits apply to all fossil-fueled combustion sources throughout the state, including coal-fired electric generating plants.

February 2009

Feb. 6, 2009: BREDL comments on NC Division Air Quality’s Proposed Boundaries for Ozone Nonattainment Areas in North Carolina. Read BREDL Comments. As part of our comments, BREDL requests that the NC DAQ support the following recommendations to its Proposed Nonattainment Boundaries:

December 2008

Dec. 31, 2008: Read BREDL comments on NC Combustion Source Exemption - BREDL Comments by Janet Marsh | BREDL Comments by Sue Dayton | BREDL Comments by David Mickey | BREDL Comments by Louis Zeller. Excerpt from comments:

November 2008

GROUP TAKES AIM AT AIR POLLUTION DEREGULATION - Nov. 20, 2008: Today at a Durham press conference, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League released a report aimed at preventing North Carolina from exempting from regulation more than 1400 air pollution sources. The study Poison Loophole details the dangers of toxic air pollution from coal plants, paper mills and asphalt plants. Read BREDL Press Release | Download the study Poison Loophole

August 2008

Aug. 2008: The North Carolina Environmental Management Commission has proposed a rule which would create a permanent exemption in the state’s health-protective toxic air pollution limits. The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League believes that the NC EMC has an obligation to protect the health of all our people by removing the Combustion Source Exemption. Meeting the state’s toxic air pollution limits at their property boundaries is not too much to expect from North Carolina’s electric utilities and manufacturing industries. A public hearing will be held Oct. 28, 2008 at 7 pm at the NC Division of Air Quality Parker-Lincoln Building in Raleigh. The time for us to organize is now. Contact BREDL for more information. BREDL Executive Director's Report - AIR POLLUTION DEREGULATION: A GIANT STEP BACKWARD | BREDL Factsheet

Aug. 2008: BREDL Factsheet - Incinerator Pollution - Landfills in the sky
Montenay Charleston Resource Recovery, Inc. operates a mass burn incinerator in Charleston, SC.

November 2007

November 2007: Tire Energy Corporation has permanently shut down its Martinsville, VA facility. We have posted the VA DEQ TEC shut down letter signed in September.

October 2007

Oct. 23, 2007: NEW STUDY REVEALS ASPHALT PLANT DANGERS - Today at a press conference in Spruce Pine, the Mitchell County Citizens for Clean Air and the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League released an air pollution study of the proposed Young & McQueen asphalt plant which shows that air toxins would be deposited far from the plant site. The League’s report shows dangerous levels offsite of formaldehyde, benzene and arsenic. BREDL Press Release | BREDL Air Pollution Study of proposed asphalt plant

October 2007: Proposed Young & McQueen asphalt plant Factsheet - Young & McQueen are proposing an asphalt plant near Spruce Pine in Mitchell County, NC.

July 2007

July 30, 2007: ASPHALT PLANTS - CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN: An overview of 7 toxic substances released from asphalt processing facilities and their known effects on human health

October 2006

October 25, 2006: Lou Zeller's comments at the Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality hearing on revised permit for Tire Energy Corporation's tire incinerator in Martinsville, Virginia.

October 17, 2006: Lou Zeller's comments before the VA State Corporation Commission regarding proposed coal-fired power plant in Wise County, Virginia.

August 2006

August 31, 2006: Duke Power proposes to triple the electric power output of its Cliffside plant near Shelby, North Carolina. The company predicts that emissions of nitrogen oxides will double: from about 3,000 tons per year to nearly 6,000 tons/year. Nitrogen oxides are the primary source of ground level ozone, a pollutant which frequently exceeds National Ambient Air Quality Standards in many parts of North Carolina. Ozone is a regional problem; NOx emissions affect downwind counties and states.
Lou Zeller's comments before the NC Utilities Commission

July 2006

July 24, 2006: BREDL and our chapter Be Safe Not Sorry request NC DENR Division of Air Quality require South Atlantic Galvanizing in Graham, NC obtain an air pollution permit. BREDL letter to NC DENR

The League's July 17, 2006 comments reflect our opposition to North Carolina's pending agreement to allow several paper mills, plastics plants, a chromium plant and an aluminum plant to receive unwarranted exemptions from state and federal regulations limiting pollution which causes atmospheric haze: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Such factories should be required to install Best Available Retrofit Technology, also known as BART, to reduce their negative impact on air quality in national parks, wilderness areas and on public health.
BREDL comments

February 2006

Feb. 11, 2006: Stericycle Dental Waste Management Plan - Reducing Mercury Emissions with Title V Operating Permits.

November 2005

The Alleghany County, North Carolina Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on November 8, 2005 to endorse a plan to zone polluting industries and high impact land uses. The move was done at the request of local residents led by Alleghany Citizens for Environmental Safety (ACES) who are concerned about a proposed asphalt plant locating in Laurel Springs on N.C. 18. The ordinance effectively blocks a polluting industry from locating within 2000 feet of a school, day care, nursing home, medical facility, church or residential dwelling. The vice president of the asphalt company claims that the company’s efforts to build are ‘grandfathered in’ because the company applied for a state air pollution permit. However, no such right is granted by the mere submission of a permit application. View the ordinance that was passed at: http://www.alleghanycounty-nc.gov/ordinances/1-296.PDF

Nov. 5, 2005: Factsheet: Toxic Air Pollution Levels in Canton, NC from Blue Ridge Paper Products, Inc.

October 2005

Oct. 20, 2005: Analysis: Asphalt Plant versus Wood Stove Pollution - Comparing Apples and Hedgehogs (a household wood stove emits but a tiny fraction of the pollution emitted by an asphalt plant.)

October 2005: An Overview of Polluting Industry Ordinances: The Wilkes County Model

Factsheet: Maymead Inc. proposed asphalt plant in the Laurel Springs community of Alleghany County, NC. (Oct. 24, 2005)

(Posted online 10/20/05) 2001 Minority Report on Fugitive Emissions from Asphalt Plants - This report, submitted to EPA in 2001, was co-authored by BREDL and other groups. (.pdf, 5 MB)

(Posted online 10/20/05) Sept. 15, 1999 BREDL letter to EPA regarding asphalt plant fugitive emissions. (.pdf)

September 2005

Clickable maps with info about North Carolina's 14 coal-fired electric power plants , South Carolina's 12 coal-fired electric power plants , Virginia's 8 coal-fired electric power plants , Tennessee's 8 coal-fired electric power plants , and Georgia's 10 coal-fired electric power plants. Updated September 2005 (added most current TRI data - 2003 and 2004 NOx, SO2, & CO2 data)

Sept. 23, 2005: APAC: POLLUTING WITHOUT BOUNDARIES
This is a report on APAC-Atlantic, Inc., one of the nation’s largest transportation construction contractors. The League's report lists APAC's violations of environmental laws and citizens’ complaints for the asphalt plants which the company operates in Rutherfordton, Burnsville, Penrose, Hendersonville and Morganton, North Carolina. Our report is based on public records on file in the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Air Quality. The company’s track record in western North Carolina reveals a corporation that shows little care for the health and well-being of the people who live nearest the asphalt factories it operates.

August 2005

APAC Atlantic proposed asphalt plant in the Henrietta community of Rutherford County, NC.
(Aug. 11, 2005)

April 2005

BREDL chapter members from Group Against Stericycle Pollution (GASP for Clean Air) joined David Mickey from BREDL and Kelly Heekin from Healthcare Without Harm (HCWH) in a face to face challenge of Stericycle's continued incineration of medical waste in Haw River, NC. The five activists traveled to Chicago where they attended the company's annual shareholder meeting where Martha Hamblin from GASP presented a resolution calling on the company to adopt a plan to stop incineration of medical waste. John Powell, Heather Bjork, David Mickey and Kelly Heekin spoke in support of the resolution and cited Stericycle's recent violations for mercury emissions.

After questions from other shareholders put Stericycle management on the defensive, they became argumentative about regulations and contracts, and refused any suggestion that Stericycle should not accept dental waste, the source of the mercury contamination, for incineration. Nevertheless, the resolution received enough shareholder votes to be presented again next year when GASP will return using shareholder activism to promote corporate responsibility.

April 27, 2005: Please check out the Health Care Without Harm Stericycle Watch webpage to read statements by David Mickey of BREDL, Martha Hamblin from BREDL chapter Group Against Stericycle Pollution (GASP), and other Haw River, NC residents made at the annual Stericycle shareholders meeting held on April 27, 2005. Statements from previous meetings are also there. Excerpts from these statements include:

December 2004

Dec. 14, 2004: BREDL and GRVAAQC comments to VA DEQ regarding determinations as to Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for the control of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions for Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Roanoke Cement Company, and Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation (Roanoke, VA area).

November 2004

Nov. 3, 2004: Project: Environmental Pollution at Savannah River Weapons Site | Date of Project: September 4— 11, 2004 | Host organizations: Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, ISAR Open World Russia Civic Program | Administered by: Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress. Associated documents: Risk-Based End States at SRS factsheet: Radioactive Pollution gets a Facelift. English Version , Russian Version | Combat Air Pollution with Bucket Brigades factsheet. English Version , Russian Version (documents posted 11/04/04)

June 2004

Clickable maps with info about North Carolina's 14 coal-fired electric power plants , South Carolina's 12 coal-fired electric power plants , Virginia's 8 coal-fired electric power plants , Tennessee's 8 coal-fired electric power plants , and Georgia's 10 coal-fired electric power plants. Updated June 2004 (added most current TRI data - 2002 and preliminary 2003 NOx, SO2, & CO2 data)

May 2004

May 20, 2004: Consolidated Coal Company in Buchanan Co., VA is seeking to nearly double its permitted VOC limits just months after being deemed a "High Priority Violator" for violating the current VOC limits. VA DEQ will hold a June 1, 2004 public info. briefing and a July 1, 2004 public hearing. Action Alert flyer and more details.

April 2004

April 26, 2004: Please write the NC Rules Review Commission to ask them to oppose NC Environmental Management Commission’s exemption for Paper Mills from Hydrogen Sulfide Air Emissions Limits. Action Alert and more details. Letters needed as soon as possible. Thanks

April 26, 2004: BREDL and Protect All Children's Environment (PACE) Action Alert (.pdf) asking the NC Dept. of Agriculture to require public notification of ALL aerial pesticides spraying.

March 2004

Mar. 08, 2004: BREDL comments to VA DEQ regarding CPV Warren gas-fired power plant air permit, Warren County, VA. (.pdf)

Mar. 02, 2004: Posted notorized transcript of comments from Feb. 12, 2004 People's Hearing regarding International Paper-Riegelwood kraft paper mill. (.pdf)

Mar. 01, 2004: BREDL comments to NC DENR DAQ regarding International Paper Riegelwood PSD permit - proposed boiler upgrade.

February 2004

Feb. 12, 2004: BREDL Press Release - GROUPS HOLD PEOPLE’S HEARING ON INTERNATIONAL PAPER: Today in Lake Waccamaw the BE SAFE North Carolina Campaign hosted a public hearing on the air permits and new proposals for International Paper at Riegelwood. Speakers took aim at the recently issued Clean Air Act permit and IP’s proposal to avoid meeting federal maximum achievable control technology standards. IP has proposed to substitute a computer-modeled risk assessment for federally mandated technological improvements.

Feb. 12, 2004: People’s Hearing on International Paper Riegelwood air pollution permit, risk assessment and new innovative technology. Hearing will be held Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 at 7:00 PM in Lake Waccamaw, NC. More Details: BREDL Action Alert | IP Fact Sheet | Hearing Flyer (Flyer & Fact Sheet updated with new date)

January 2004

Jan. 27, 2004: BREDL comments to EPA regarding International Paper Riegelwood air pollution permits.

Jan. 27, 2004: People’s Hearing on International Paper Riegelwood air pollution permit, risk assessment and new innovative technology. Hearing will be held Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 7:00 PM in Lake Waccamaw, NC. More Details: BREDL Action Alert | IP Fact Sheet | Hearing Flyer (Print out and pass around)

Jan. 8, 2004: BREDL comments during Title V permit hearing for Blue Ridge Paper

Public Hearing: VA DEQ will hold a public hearing on Feb. 24, 2004 in Front Royal, VA on the proposed CPV Warren 580 Mw gas-fired power plant. This facility would be located 5 miles from the Shenandoah National Park, a very polluted Class I area. Action Alert and more details.

December 2003

Dec. 15, 2003: BREDL additional comments on NC DAQ rulemaking for Hydrogen Sulfide limits.

Dec. 05, 2003: Earthjustice files lawsuit challenging regulations published by the EPA that will allow hazardous chemicals at toxic waste sites to be pumped into the air without any control measures. Earthjustice filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Sierra Club, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety.

November 2003

Nov. 5, 2003: BREDL's Dr. Rick Weisler letter to NC Environmental Management Commission Air Quality Committee Chair Marion E. Deerhake regarding acceptable ambient levels for Hydrogen Sulfide.

ALERT: Public Comments Deadline - Dec. 15, 2003: NC EMC Public Hearing Nov. 5, 2003 in Enka, NC regarding hydrogen sulfide regulations and reductions. Action Alert and more details. Please attend this very important public hearing!

ALERT: Particulate matter standards under review. EPA Nov. 12 & 13, 2003 MEETING in Research Triangle Park, NC. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Particulate Matter (PM) Review Panel. Public comment period will probably happen on Nov. 12. | Nov. 12, 2003: BREDL comments on CASAC review of the air quality criteria document for particulate matter.

October 2003

Oct. 20, 2003: Today at press conferences in Asheville, High Point and Durham, statewide and regional organizations launched the BE SAFE North Carolina campaign. Groups from across the state will promote the “better-safe-than-sorry” approach to protection of public health and the environment. The mission of BE SAFE NC is to protect children’s health and to safeguard our air, water, and workplaces. Press Releases and more information on the BE SAFE Campaign.

Oct. 20, 2003: Factsheet: Hydrogen Sulfide - The Human Health Effect of a Toxic Pollutant. (.pdf)

September 2003

Sept 19, 2003: BREDL comments on Title V permit for Stericycle, Inc, Haw River, Alamance County, NC (.pdf)

Sept. 16, 2003: BREDL comments on Phase One North American Regional Action Plan for Dioxins and Furans, and Hexachlorobenzene. (.pdf)

Sept. 06, 2003: BREDL comments on Title V permit for Weyerhaeuser Company, Elkin Plant, Surry County, NC (.pdf)

Sept. 02, 2003: BREDL and WEAG Appeal to Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board regarding VA DEQ determination of exemption for W-L asphalt plant. (.pdf)

August 2003

Aug. 14, 2003: Lou Zeller's oral remarks at the EPA hearing held at Research Triangle Park regarding proposed changes to New Source Review

July 2003

July 29, 2003: BREDL comments on TEC tire incinerator in Henry Co., VA (in .pdf)

July 25, 2003: BREDL and WEAG cite numerous flaws with DEQ’s approval of Wythe County, VA asphalt plant. Groups request DEQ to stop relocation and re-open permitting process. Read Press Release | July 25, 2003: BREDL and WEAG letter to Virginia DEQ Director Robert Burnley requesting determination of permit exemptions. (.pdf) | More information including BREDL/DEQ correspondence, background, pictures.

July 12, 2003: BREDL Board of Directors passes resolution requesting a ban on aerial pesticide spraying in North Carolina.

June 2003

June 30, 2003: EPA Region IV letter to Dr. Rick Weisler stating that current laws are not enough to offer "consistent and comprehensive environmental protection strategy." The EPA letter writer urges Dr. Weisler to continue his work to document unexpected disease clusters and contaminant associations near asphalt industry in Salisbury, NC.

June 25, 2003: BREDL comments on reopened Title V permit for Stericycle, Inc, Haw River, Alamance County, NC (.pdf)

June 16, 2003: BREDL comments on the draft Title V permit for SGL Carbon in Morganton,(Burke Co.), NC (.pdf)

May 2003

May 23, 2003: BREDL comments on the proposed air permit for the Ferebee Asphalt Corp. asphalt plant in Optimist Park in Charlotte. (.pdf)

May 18, 2003: BREDL comments on the draft Title V permit for Duke Energy's G.G. Allen power station, Gaston Co., NC (.pdf)

May 13, 2003: BREDL petitions EPA to object to Final Title V permit for Savannah River Site. (in .pdf)

March 2003

Mar. 31, 2003: Lou Zeller's oral remarks at the EPA hearing on proposed changes to New Source Review | Public Comment Period has been extended to May 02, 2003 - Check out this EPA webpage for details on submitting comments

Mar. 31, 2003: BREDL comments on the draft Title V permit for Georgia-Pacific paper mill in Big Island, VA. (in .pdf)

Mar. 25, 2003: BREDL comments on the draft Title V permit for Duke Energy's Belews Creek coal-fired power plant in Stokes County, NC. (in .pdf)

March 04, 2003: Dr. Rick Weisler letter to NC Environmental Management Commission Air Quality Committee Chair Marion E. Deerhake regarding acceptable ambient levels for Hydrogen Sulfide.

February 2003

Feb. 10, 2003: BREDL letter to NC Environmental Management Commission Air Quality Committee Chair Marion E. Deerhake regarding acceptable ambient levels for Hydrogen Sulfide.

Feb. 5, 2003: BREDL Slide Show presentation by Dr. Rick Weisler: Childhood Brain Cancers Near Asphalt Industry in Salisbury, North Carolina

Feb. 3, 2003: BREDL and PRIDE letter to EPA and VA DEQ requesting ozone nonattainment status for Henry and Pittsylvania Counties in Virginia.

January 2003

Jan. 29, 2003: Multi-group letter to U.S. Secretary of Interior Norton expressing concern over industry pressure to build a gas-fired power plant in close proximity to Shenandoah National Park.

Jan. 27, 2003: Multi-group letter to NC Governor Easley and Attorney General Cooper requesting North Carolina to join 9 other states in suing EPA to block weakening of the Clean Air Act.

Jan. 06, 2003: BREDL files Section 505 Petition with EPA regarding AEP Clinch River (Russell, Co. VA) coal-fired power plant Title V permit

Jan. 01, 2003: Clickable maps with info about North Carolina's 14 coal-fired electric power plants , South Carolina's 12 coal-fired electric power plants , Virginia's 8 coal-fired electric power plants , Tennessee's 8 coal-fired electric power plants , and Georgia's 11 coal-fired electric power plants. Updated Jan. 2003

December 2002

Dec. 13, 2002: BREDL comments to VA SCC on application for gas-fired power plant in Warren Co., VA, within 7km of Shenandoah Nat. Park. (in .pdf)

Dec. 06, 2002: BREDL additional comments, including letter from Dr. Peter Rickards on the unreliability of HEPA filters to control radionuclide emissions, on the draft Title V permit for Savannah River Site. (in .pdf)

November 2002

Nov. 22, 2002: BREDL and PACE Press Release - Aerial Pesticide regulators to dump safety buffer zones! Free Pesticides Coming to Your Child Soon (posted online Nov. 3, 2003)

Nov. 21, 2002: BREDL additional comments on the draft Title V permit for the Savannah River Site. (in .pdf) | BREDL flyer for Nov. 21, 2002 hearing (in .pdf)

Nov. 4, 2002: BREDL Comments on Title V permit for CP & L Roxboro Steam Electric Plant in Person Co., NC (in .pdf)

October 2002

Oct. 07, 2002: BREDL comments on Proposed Rules for National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Site Remediation, 40 CFR 63, Subpart GGGGG.

September 2002

Sept. 24, 2002: BREDL Comments on Title V permit for Weyerhaeuser in Kingsport, TN (in .pdf)

Aug. 20, 2002 & Sept. 3, 2002: BREDL comments before NC EMC on the proposed rule changes under 15A NCAC 2D .0506, 2Q .0306, 2D .1109, and 2Q .0526. (amendments to:  Particulate Emissions, Rules for asphalt plants, Public participation rules, Volatile Organic Compound Rules, Permitting Rules, 112j Case-by-Case MACT Rules and others)  

August 2002

Aug. 20, 2002: BREDL comments before NC EMC on the proposed rule changes under 15A NCAC 2D .0506, 2Q .0306, 2D .1109, and 2Q .0526. (amendments to:  Particulate Emissions, Rules for asphalt plants, Public participation rules, Volatile Organic Compound Rules, Permitting Rules, 112j Case-by-Case MACT Rules and others)  Final comment deadline September 3, 2002   NC DAQ Calendar Notice posted at: http://daq.state.nc.us/cgi-bin/cal.cgi?8+2002

July 2002

July 17, 2002: BREDL Comments on Title V permit for AEP Clinch River coal-fired power plant in Russell, Co. VA (in .pdf) ; August 26, 2002: BREDL additional comments from public hearing

July 11, 2002 in Clemmons, NC, BREDL chapter Triad Environmental Action joined groups across the United States to protest Martha Stewart's use of vinyl in her Everyday product line.  Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a major source of the carcinogen dioxin.

July 9, 2002 - BREDL comments on Virginia DEQ and SCC agreement on power plant impacts

July 2, 2002 - BREDL and PRIDE petition EPA to object to Solite Cascade, VA Title V permit

April 2002

April 25, 2002: BREDL Comments on Clean Air Act Title V permit for Lafarge Building Materials, Inc. near Harleyville, SC

March 12, 2002 and April 11, 2002: BREDL Comments on Georgia-Pacific Corporation - Holly Hill, South Carolina Fiberboard Plant Clean Air Act Title V permit , pictures: Georgia-Pacific Corporation-Holly Hill

March 2002

March 19, 2002: BREDL and PRIDE comments on PSD permit for 1100 Mw Henry County/Cogentrix gas-fired power plant in Henry Co. Virginia. (in .pdf) Update: Air permit has been withdrawn as of August 1, 2003 according to Virginia DEQ website - http://www.deq.state.va.us/air/cogens/proposedpl.html

March 8, 2002: The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League Bethel-Cullasaja community health survey report. The Bethel-Cullasaja community is the site of an asphalt plant permitted to produce 180 tons/hour and 100,000 tons/year of paving asphalt.

March 8, 2002: The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense released a study showing the adverse impacts on property values and quality of life around an asphalt plant in Pineola, North Carolina.

February 2002

Feb. 20, 2002 - BREDL comments on Savannah River Site, Aiken SC Title V permit (in .pdf)

January 2002

Jan. 22, 2002 - BREDL comments to NC EMC regarding proposed DAQ Rule Changes under 15 A NCAC 2D .1200 and 2Q .0700.

Jan. 18, 2002 - Public Comment period extended 30 days on Savannah River Site Title V permit. More info soon. For more info contact: Mr. Robert J. Brown, Jr., Assistant Director, Engineering Services Division, SCDHEC, Bureau of Air Quality ph: 803-898-4105.

Jan. 17, 2002 - Jan. 17, 2002 -BREDL comments to EPA Region IV regarding New Source Review rules under the Clean Air Act , BREDL comments to EPA Region III regarding New Source Review rules under the Clean Air Act , Read Jan. 17, 2002 Virginia Press Advisory

Jan. 15, 2002 - BREDL comments on Stericycle, Inc, Haw River, Alamance County, NC Title V permit

December 2001

Dec. 03, 2001: BREDL comments on Trigen Biopower– North Cove, McDowell County Title V permit

November 2001

Nov. 20, 2001: Citizens meet to oppose Wedlake Plant. BREDL Press Release ; PVC Fact Sheet

Nov. 5, 2001 - BREDL comments on Solite Corp. Cascade, Virginia Title V permit

October 2001

Oct. 25, 2001 - BREDL comments on Title V permit for Southern States Chemical in Wilmington, NC

August 2001

Aug. 21, 2001: Today in testimony before the US Environmental Protection Agency in Arlington, Virginia, representatives of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League told federal officials to close the loophole for fossil-fueled electric power plants. The four-state citizens group called on the EPA to reduce air pollutants which reduce visibility in our national parks and which cause thousands of deaths every year. Read North Carolina Press Release and Four-state (VA, NC, SC, & TN) Press Release , BREDL Comments on BART Guidelines under Haze Regs , EPA BART Facts (NOTE: The EPA will accept written comments until September 18^th. To submit comments (identified by the docket number A-2000-28) contact Ms. Nancy Perry, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, MD-15, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-5628, e-mail: perry.nancy@epa.gov.   For further information contact BREDL at BREDL@skybest.com or call 336-982-2691.)

BREDL held a Bucket Brigade training workshop in Winston-Salem, NC on Saturday, August 18, 2001. Volunteers were trained on bucket operation and how to organize community "bucket brigades".

July 2001

June 26, 2001 - >>>Posted online July 16, 2001: Tri-County Paving, Inc. v. Ashe County (in .pdf format)<<<
MEMORANDUM OPINION and ORDER granting [59-1] motion for Summary Judgment, Dismissing plf's amd cmp with prejudice ( signed by Judge Richard L. Voorhees ) Judgment Volume: 47 Page: 21 cc: attys of record

June 2001

June 22, 2001 - Virginia DEQ response to BREDL's comments on Glen Lyn power plant Acid Rain Permit Amendment. (.pdf format)

June 13, 2001 - The Citizens Against the Asphalt Plant (CAAP) files a lawsuit on Wednesday before an administrative law judge seeking to force more controls on Tarheel Paving Co.'s asphalt plant in Henderson County, NC.

June 7, 2001 - BREDL's Report to the Technical Advisory Committee of the Western NC Regional Air Pollution Control Agency

April 2001

April 19, 2001 - Comments on Glen Lyn Power Plant Acid Rain Amendment

March 2001

BREDL Comments on DRAFT air permit for Tar Heel Paving Asphalt Plant, Henderson, NC (March 12, 2001)

posted March 01, 2001 :

BREDL Comments on DRAFT air permit for APAC Tennessee Asphalt Plant, Murphy, NC (Jan. 22, 2001)

BREDL comments on DRAFT air permit for Smith & Sons Paving Company, McDowell County. (Feb. 8, 2001)

BREDL Comments at Public Hearing on air permit for Maymead Asphalt Plant in Boone, NC. (Feb. 19, 2001)

February 2001

Feb. 27, 2001 - WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the way the federal government sets clean-air standards, rejecting industry arguments that officials must balance compliance costs against the health benefits of cleaner air.

The ruling, a major boost for the federal Clean Air Act, said the law does not require the government to consider the financial cost of reducing harmful emissions when it sets air-quality standards.

The justices also ruled against industry arguments that the Environmental Protection Agency took too much lawmaking power from Congress when it set tougher standards for ozone and soot in 1997.

But the court ordered the EPA to reconsider the implementation of the standards it set for ozone, saying the agency's interpretation of a section of the Clean Air Act was unreasonable.

Feb 9, 2001 - Comments on Glen Lyn Power Plant Acid Rain Amendment

January 2001

Jan. 20, 2001 - APAC-Tennessee Inc. proposed plant in Cherokee County, NC.

Newly posted Asphalt Plant Flyer Fact Sheets

Jan. 15, 2001 - Asphalt Plant Campaign Report: This report gives an update on BREDL's campaign to reduce toxic pollution from asphalt plants in western North Carolina. It includes information about six communities which oppose existing or proposed asphalt plants.
(including asphalt plants in Pineola , Boone , Jefferson , Cullasaja , White Oak Creek )

Jan. 12, 2001 - EPA is proposing to amend its regional haze rule. 60 Day public comment period to follow posting in the federal register. Read EPA Press Release , Download proposed guidelines from EPA website

Jan. 11, 2001 - I-73 DEIS (Roanoke, VA to NC border) fails to address Roanoke's Air Quality. Read BREDL's Air Quality Report on I-73

December 2000

Dec. 22, 2000 - The Justice Department on behalf of the EPA has filed a lawsuit against Duke Energy, charging that eight of the electric utility's power plants illegally released massive amounts of air pollutants for years.
The lawsuit filed in Greensboro, N.C. alleges that Duke Energy violated the Clean Air Act by making major modifications to its coal-fired power plants in the Carolinas without installing the equipment required to control smog, acid rain and soot. For more than a decade, the plants have operated without the best available emissions-control technology, increasing air pollution near the facilities and also downwind of the plants, along the Eastern Seaboard.

source: EPA press release

November 2000

Nov. 16, 2000 - The Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the State of New York has announced an agreement in principle with Virginia Power that requires the company to reduce harmful air pollution from the company's eight coal-fired power plants in Virginia and West Virginia, perform $13.9 million in environmental projects, and pay a $5.3 million civil fine.
This includes: a phased NOx emission reductions program commencing with a 55,000 ton reduction (minimum) over the 2004-2007 time period and additional reductions in the 2008-2012 time period. Current NOx emissions are 105,000 tons per year (1998) final system-wide permanent NOx emission cap 30,250 tons per year, commencing January 1, 2013. This represents the elimination of two-thirds of Virginia Power's 1998 NOx emissions - a reduction of 75,000 tons per year of NOx.
Current SO2 emissions of 263,000 tons (1998). Phased reduction in SO2 emissions commencing with a 100,000 ton reduction in 2003 and concluding with a permanent system-wide cap of 82,000 tons per year effective January 1, 2013 - a reduction of 68 per cent from 1998 levels.

source: EPA Press Release

October 2000

BREDL FACT SHEET - Clean Air Act Title V Permits

Oct. 11, 2000 - Citizens breathe easy with closure of medical waste incinerator - Citing numerous problems, Mecklenburg Co. Dept. of Environmental Protection shuts down the BMWNC Inc. medical waste incinerator in Matthews, NC.

Oct. 2000 - North Carolina needs Guaranteed Air Pollution Reductions: Half Measures Fall Short

September 2000

BREDL Sept. 12, 2000 letter to NC EMC regarding ozone reductions for coal-fired power plants

August 2000

August 8, 2000 - the North Carolina Division of Air Quality issued a new air permit for the Rhodes Brothers asphalt plant in Macon County. More info: NC DAQ Press Release

July 2000

Take Action: Send a letter to Governor Hunt and North Carolina state policy makers in support of the People's Plan for Clean Air. DEADLINE WAS SEPT 1, 2000. Read our Sample Letter that was automatically emailed to Governor Hunt with copies sent to Secretary Holman, Chairman Moreau of EMC and Chairman Deerhake of EMC Air Committee. Thanks! (updated Sept 13, 2000)

Clickable map with info about North Carolina's 14 coal-fired electric power plants

Clickable map with info about South Carolina's 13 coal-fired electric power plants

Clickable map with info about Virginia's 8 coal-fired electric power plants

Clickable map with info about Tennessee's 8 coal-fired electric power plants

July 5, 2000 - BREDL's Draft Comments On The NC Nitrogen Oxide Reduction Rule. The NC Environmental Management Commission will hold a series of public hearings on air pollution in July.

June 2000

June 9, 2000 - Prisoners Of Our Homes (POOH) holds a press briefing in Charlotte, NC.  POOH called for the shut down of the BMWNC medical waste incinerator.  Photos from press briefing.

May 2000

May 18, 2000 - BREDL/NACAP Press Release regarding air permit At a press conference in Franklin, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and Neighbors Against the Cullasaja Asphalt Plant released a detailed analysis of the pollution which would be allowed if the state approves a permit for the Rhodes Brothers asphalt plant.

Action Alert: Public Hearing on Rhodes Brothers Asphalt Plant permit. May 30, 2000 at 6:30 PM at Franklin High School in Franklin, NC.

April 2000

April 29, 2000 - NC People's Hearing on Dioxin held in Raleigh.

April 11, 2000 - BREDL's comments on CP & L's H.F. Lee and Cape Fear Title V power plant permits.

April 5, 2000 - BREDL's comments on Duke Energy's Riverbend and Dan River Title V power plant permits.

Action Alert - The NC Division of Air Quality has announced the first Title V public hearing on two Duke Power coal-fired power plants.  The hearing on the Dan River and Riverbend plants will be on April 3, 2000 at 7 PM in Statesville.

March 2000

March 24, 2000 - BREDL's comments to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regarding Ozone Transport Reduction. Press Advisory

March 16, 2000 - The Great Smoky Mountains National Park registers its earliest bad ozone day on March 8, 2000.

March 9, 2000 - Neighbors Against the Cullasaja Asphalt Plant (NACAP) reports an Asphalt Plant was stopped in Franklin NC. The Environmental Management Commission voted to deny the air quality permit to Rhodes Brothers Paving Company in the floodplain of the Cullasaja River (Macon County).

March 07, 2000 - BREDL letter to NC DAQ regarding air permit upgrade for Corning, Inc. in Cabarrus County.
- Action Alert - Please write DAQ to request a public hearing/comment period for Corning, Inc. air permit upgrade which increases the Cabarrus County plant's pollution by 96%.

March 03, 2000 - Federal Appeals Court Upholds EPA Air Pollution Ruling. 19 states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, & Tennessee will have to curtail smog-causing chemicals from power plants.

February 2000

Feb 14, 2000 - BREDL letter regarding NC Title V Air Permit for Steelcase, Inc. in Fletcher, NC